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African stakeholders called for the scale up of the Internet Universality assessment at African IGF 2022
The unique strength of the Internet Universality ROAM-X indicators and principles framework lies in that it does not rank states or compare them with one another, but rather provides evidence-based answers in response to national challenges to countries conducting their assessments.
While pointing out that 17 countries have initiated the ROAM assessment in Africa including 3 completed reports in , and, Ms Enterhuysen also encouraged Malawi and other African countries to conduct the assessment to foster digital inclusion and transformation at national level.
Representing the civil society organisationCollaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), which focuses on decision-making that facilitates the use of ICT in support of development and poverty reduction, Juliet Nanfuka stated: “We need to grow awareness and community around the Internet Universality ROAM-X indicators and principles in order to bridge digital gaps in Africa.”
Ms Nanfuka underlined in creating avenues for the promotion and implementation inclusive Internet landscapes that recognize the diversity of stakeholders online and offline and scaling up the assessment in more African countries.
The two entities are keen to host interventions aimed at encouraging and enhancing use and awareness of the frameworks which can support the understanding of national Internet environment and policies, assess both national and media environment and policies in relation to the ROAM-X principles, as well as formulate policy recommendations. As such, a series of webinars are in the pipeline for Cameroon, Malawi, Namibia, Somalia, Uganda this year.
Several participants expressed their strong interest in conducting the Internet Universality ROAM-X assessment and requested UNESCO’s support to initiatethe assessment in their countries, . Participants also pointed out that all 16 countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) need ROAM-X assessments for their national initiatives of developing digital economy and striving for digital inclusion.
Xianhong Hu, Programme Specialist at UNESCO, reaffirmed that UNESCO is fully committed to providing all support needed by those countries in need for the ROAM-X assessment . Ms Hu also shared some lessons learned of the implementation of the ROAM-X assessments including the challenge of composing an inclusive Multi-stakeholder Advisory Board and formulating strong policy recommendations supported by solid data and in-depth analysis.
Regarding those countries who have completed the assessment such as in Benin, Kenya, and Senegal, Ms Hu stressed the urgent need to put in place follow-up actions to improve the digital policies through the implementation of the recommendations formulated in the assessment.
Representing the Internet Governance Forum’ Secretariat, Anja Gengo commended the proactive approach of the and called for the African IGF community and stakeholders to engage with the Coalition for scaling up the ROAM-X assessment in Africa.
